Sixth View of the Colosseum c. 1550

Hieronymus Cock’s "Sixth View of the Colosseum," an etching created around 1550, presents a detailed perspective of the Colosseum’s ruins. This print, part of a series, captures the grandeur of the ancient Roman amphitheater, showcasing its crumbling arches and eroded stonework. Through the artist's skilled use of line and shadow, the viewer can almost feel the weight of history and the passage of time. Cock, a prominent publisher and printmaker, contributed to the growing fascination with Roman antiquities during the Renaissance, disseminating images of these structures throughout Europe.